Birthday Banquet

Xiao Chongrui heard from his spies that the Crown Prince was out strolling hand in hand with the young master of the Chancellor's Residence, chatting and laughing, looking every bit like brothers bound by deep affection.

He immediately could not sit still and decided to go ruin their relationship.

The night before last, Shen Tingjue had gone to drink and make merry with the Chenghuan Emperor in the middle of the night instead of sleeping, costing Xiao Chongrui's mother consort a chance to attend the Emperor and win his favor. She had beaten her chest, stamped her feet, smashed two sets of tea ware, then sent people to disturb Xiao Chongrui's sweet dreams in the dead of night, forcing him to listen to her complaints in Yanfu Palace all night long.

Xiao Chongrui had been bottling up a bellyful of anger. Learning that Shen Tingjue and the Crown Prince were close enough to stroll the streets together, he pondered it on his own and decided the Crown Prince must have bought Shen Tingjue off and incited him to deal with him.

Damn it, just as expected—a hypocritical, cunning bastard!

He had to let Shen Tingjue see the other's true face.

It was the liveliest hour of the night market. Quite a few street performers had appeared along the road, while commoners called to friends and companions to watch the acrobatics, their shouts and cheers rising one after another.

Shen Tingjue bit into a candied hawthorn skewer as he watched a burly man smash a boulder on his chest, his eyes gleaming. He stuffed the skewer into Xiao Hanye's hand, pushed apart the people blocking his way, and tried to squeeze forward.

Quick-eyed and quick-handed, Xiao Hanye caught him by the back of his collar and dragged him back. "What are you doing?"

Shen Tingjue rubbed his hands together, brimming with excitement. "I want to do boulder-smashing on the chest too, and swallow swords and breathe fire!"

Cold and merciless, Xiao Hanye forcibly dragged him away.

"Yo, didn't Eldest Brother say he was going to Mount Li to drill troops for a month or two? Why are you back so soon?"

That familiar, irritating voice sounded behind them. Xiao Hanye did not even turn his head, as though he had heard nothing, and continued pulling Shen Tingjue onward.

Xiao Chongrui gritted his teeth, dismissed several attendants, and hurried after them. Walking beside Shen Tingjue, he put on a friendly smile. "Cousin, you're in high spirits tonight."

Shen Tingjue glanced sideways at him, smiling without quite smiling.

Xiao Chongrui: "?"

There had not been any sarcasm in his words, had there?

"What high spirits? You make it sound as though I abandoned my post." Shen Tingjue shook the Imperial Guard Bureau badge at his waist, his face perfectly solemn. "I'm patrolling the streets."

He was not out playing.

Xiao Chongrui's mouth twitched. He looked up at the sky and silently rolled his eyes at the same time as His Highness the Crown Prince.

Shen Tingjue tossed a chestnut into his mouth. "What are you doing here?"

"Strolling around. Who would have thought we'd run into each other on the street? Don't you think this is a heaven-sent fate?"

Seeing the look of disdain on Shen Tingjue's face, Xiao Chongrui immediately shot Xiao Hanye an unfriendly glare and clenched his fist.

Hmph!

You must have said something bad about me in front of him!

Xiao Hanye stared ahead, unconcerned, treating his second imperial brother like a fart.

Xiao Chongrui clenched his fist, just considering how to make trouble for the Crown Prince when his peripheral vision casually swept to the side. He suddenly saw two young women standing before a jewelry stall. One wore a plain-colored gauze skirt, with lively brows and eyes and twin flat buns in her hair. At a glance, it was clear she was an unmarried maiden.

Shen Tingjue glanced at the suddenly blushing Second Prince and nudged Xiao Hanye's arm. "Who is she?"

Following his gaze, Xiao Hanye looked over. "Ji Zhang's concubine-born daughter, Ji Pinglan."

Shen Tingjue stroked his chin and gave an "Oh."

That very morning, he had heard people from the Imperial Guard Bureau discussing Ji Zhang. He was the chief commissioner of the Privy Council, assisting the Chancellor and jointly overseeing military and political affairs. Relying on the merit he had earned by helping the Emperor ascend the throne in his youth, he thought highly of himself.

Hantao, the maidservant, softly said to Ji Pinglan, who was selecting hairpins, "Miss, isn't that His Highness and the Second Prince?"

Ji Pinglan's hand paused. Turning to look, her eyes lit up. She stepped forward and curtsied. "Ping Lan greets His Highness the Crown Prince and Your Highness."

When she finished, her gaze lingered on Shen Tingjue, somewhat hesitant. "This young master is...?"

Shen Tingjue answered, "Call me Lord Shen."

Lord sounded far more imposing than young master.

Ji Pinglan froze for a moment, quickly guessed his identity, then smiled. "So you are Lord Shen. A pleasure to meet you."

The moment the Prince of Kang saw his beloved cousin, he became like a young man newly struck by love, even stammering as he spoke. "C-Cousin, are you out for a stroll too? I didn't expect us to meet on the street. This truly is a heaven-sent fate."

Shen Tingjue clicked his tongue. "Heaven has bestowed quite a lot of fate on you."

Xiao Chongrui pretended not to hear him. Tossing the purpose of his trip beyond the clouds and nine heavens, he blushed as he invited his cousin to watch the acrobatics.

Shen Tingjue continued clicking his tongue, staring fixedly at His Highness the Crown Prince.

Xiao Hanye: "?"

Shen Tingjue pointed at the Prince of Kang's retreating back and loudly hollered into his ear, "Did you see that? That's what liking someone is supposed to look like!"

Feeling the surrounding gazes, Xiao Hanye dearly wished to chop a certain someone who had been given an inch and taken a mile into eight pieces. He took a deep breath, suppressed his temper, and gave a flat, emotionless "Oh."

Ever since the Grand Princess lost her son, she had never held another birthday banquet. But times had changed. With a young master newly added to the Chancellor's Residence, the Grand Princess's mood improved day by day, and she now wished to host a birthday banquet.

This was the first birthday feast she had held in many years, so naturally she arranged it with immense grandeur. Officials great and small, along with their families, all received invitations.

Someone had let slip that the Grand Princess intended to select a daughter-in-law from among the guests at this banquet. Upon hearing the news, the daughters of official families who had been invited all attended in full dress, going to great lengths to fashion themselves in the most stylish makeup in all the capital.

Shen Tingjue splashed his face with cold water, tossed the towel back onto its rack, and walked straight past the elderly steward smiling broadly as he held a red robe. He picked out a plain, clean-colored outfit from his clothing chest.

Steward Feng still tried to insist. "Red is festive."

Once he put it on, he would surely charm a great many people.

Shen Tingjue played deaf, changed into his chosen clothes, then hung a jade pendant and fragrant sachet at his waist.

Steward Feng sighed regretfully, put the red robe away, and stepped forward to arrange his hair. "Young Master, quite a few noble ladies have come today. You must take a good look and choose one."

Shen Tingjue asked, "Are they prettier than me?"

Without even thinking, Steward Feng replied, "Certainly not!"

Shen Tingjue proudly tipped up his chin. "Then what would I want them for? Isn't looking into a mirror enough?"

Steward Feng grinned with shameless impropriety. "You could engage in affairs of wind and moon. Then Young Master would not have to rely on the Secret Illustrations of Spring Nights to pass those long, long nights."

Shen Tingjue looked righteous and awe-inspiring as he tucked his hands into his sleeves. "Nonsense. Nothing of the sort happened. You were the one looking at them."

Steward Feng smoothly went along with him. "Yes, yes, this old servant was the one looking."

The birthday banquet was held at Sile Garden on East Street.

That place had been the Chenghuan Emperor's coming-of-age gift to his imperial sister. The gardens were vast, with pleasant scenery and lush greenery all around. In the distance, layers upon layers of jade-green peaks could be seen, stirring poets to inspiration. They gathered in twos and threes, chanting poems and composing matching verses.

Within the gardens, dozens of rows of long tables and wooden chairs had already been laid out, with gold goblets, silver wine pots, jade plates, and rhinoceros-horn bowls. Servants busily welcomed guests, checking their names against the invitation lists with strict scrutiny.

Once the Grand Princess took her seat, the disorderly clamor in Peach Garden gradually subsided. Shen Tingjue stood at her side and swiftly caught sight of His Highness the Crown Prince among the crowd.

The instant their eyes met, Shen Tingjue licked his lips at him and curved them into a smile.

Shen Tingjue's eyes were narrow and long. When they lifted at the corners, they traced an exceptionally alluring curve, and with that half-spoken, half-hidden suggestion within them, they brimmed with provocative heat.

Xiao Hanye's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He shot Shen Tingjue a vicious glare.

The Chancellor had no idea that his own son had started the flirtation. Seeing the Crown Prince glaring at Shen Tingjue with ill intent, he immediately shielded Shen Tingjue tightly behind him, attempting to stand against His Highness the Crown Prince with his aged body.

Xiao Hanye tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Wen Jingkong nudged his arm. "What are you laughing at?"

Unhurriedly, Xiao Hanye said, "I'm laughing at a mother hen protecting her chick."

His voice was neither loud nor soft, just enough for the Chancellor to hear.

The Chancellor was so furious his beard stood straight up.

You're the mother hen!